John Wise seeking clemency

John Wise — the Massillon man who said he fatally shot his wife in an act of mercy — is seeking clemency. The application is being filed with the state.

GateHouse Ohio Media

The 68-year-old Massillon man who said he fatally shot his hospitalized wife out of mercy is asking for clemency.

John Wise was sentenced in December to six years in prison following his murder conviction in the death of his wife, Barbara.

Wise admitted that he walked into Akron General Medical Center on Aug. 4 and shot her to death. A jury in Summit County Common Pleas Court found him guilty of aggravated murder, murder and felonious assault.

An application for executive clemency has been filed on behalf of Wise, according to a press release from his attorney Paul F. Adamson.

"Mr. Wise committed the act based upon his wife's wishes that she not be kept alive in a vegetative state, and his concerns that his physical ailments would prevent him from attending to her needs and those wishes," the release said late Thursday afternoon.

They were married for 45 years. She had suffered triple brain aneurysms. Wise also tried to kill himself that day, but the gun jammed.

"Wise is in poor health and is not likely to survive his prison sentence," the release said.

He has been incarcerated for roughly 18 months, according to the news release.

The application has been submitted to the Ohio Parole Board. The board must conduct an investigation into the facts and circumstances of the case, the release said. Eventually it would recommend that Gov. John Kasich either grant or deny clemency. The governor has sole discretion.

A petition drive in support of clemency for Wise has begun at change.org, the release said. It has more than 400 signatures.

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